DLT S4 - Getting Stuck Cartridge in SL8500 Due to Missing Leader

Asset ID:	1-72-1016299.1
Update Date:	2012-04-30
Keywords:

Solution Type Problem Resolution Sure

Solution 1016299.1 : DLT S4 - Getting Stuck Cartridge in SL8500 Due to Missing Leader

Applies to:

Sun StorageTek SL8500 Modular Library System - Version Not Applicable and later
Sun Storage DLT-S4 Tape Drive - Version Not Applicable and later
All Platforms
Checked for relevance on 30-Dec-2010.

Symptoms

Damaged S4 cartridges
Damaged cartridges
Damaged S4 cartridges may become stuck in the SL8500 library
Stuck media
Missing leader on cartridge

Changes

{CHANGE}

Cause

Library EVT has found a library code bug while trying to load a damaged tape cartridge in the S4 drive. The "test" tape was missing the cartridge leader. The drive cannot load these tapes and the library code does not manage this event correctly by returning the cartridge to its original cell and then flagging the error. Instead the library reports a non-functional drive.

Solution

Resolution
A fix was placed in 3.97 library code and higher.

The stuck tape can be easily removed from the drive by removing the drive tray and manually removing the cartridge.

If you remove a stuck tape, inspect the leader to make sure you do not return a damaged cartridge to the library.

No special tool is needed to remove the stuck tape - you should be able to reach in and pull the tape out with 2 fingers. This was found and proved by engineering testing in the lab.

Product
Sun StorageTek SDLT Tape Drive

DLT S4, SL8500, Cartridge leader
Previously Published As STKKB80135

Attachments

This solution has no attachment